Answer to Question #86744 in Chemistry for Julie

Question

Briefly discuss various causes of soil pollution.

Answer 1

Soil pollution is a type of anthropogenic soil degradation in which the content of chemicals in soils exposed to anthropogenic impact exceeds the natural regional background level of their content in soils. In general, soil pollutants are subdivided into classes: 1) inorganic pollutants; 2) organic pollutants; 3) radioactive contaminants; 4) biological pollutants.

Inorganic pollutants include heavy metals, mineral salts, and substances (i.e., fertilizers, cyanides, asbestos, anti-icing agents), inorganic acids (i.e., chromic acids), toxic alkalis, etc.

Organic pollutants include low molecular weight organic compounds (i.e., organochlorine pesticides , herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, aromatic amines), PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, fluoranthene, pyrene, naphthalene, etc.), HOS (organochlorine compounds), phenols, oil and oil products (i.e., oil sludge, fuel oil, kerosene, gasoline, various solvents), dyes (paints, varnishes, related products), organic acids, etc. 

Radioactive contaminants include liquid, solid and gaseous substances with radioactivity.

Biological pollutants include harmful pathogens, bacteria, and algae that are spread due to human activities.